INDReporter

ADA, Judge Edwards duped in ‘Thug Law' video

by Leslie Turk

Two local officials featured in a controversial reality-style "Thug Law" video, which made it on to YouTube last week and had almost 1,700 hits before noon Friday, told The Advocate they were misled about the nature of the video.

Two local officials featured in a controversial reality-style "Thug Law" video, which made it on to YouTube last week and had almost 1,700 hits before noon Friday, told The Advocate they were misled about the nature of the video.

Assistant District Attorney Pat Magee and 15th Judicial District Judge Jules Edwards appear in what turned out to be a promotional video for Baton Rouge criminal defense attorney Peter Q. John (aka P'ta Mon), now under indictment in Baton Rouge. Both Magee and Edwards told the newspaper they only agreed to participate in what was sold to them as a serious documentary about second chances for offenders. The interviews were conducted two years ago, the paper reported, before lawyer John found himself  in the same predicament as those he defends: under indictment for allegedly interfering in the attempted murder investigation of two managers of Baton Rouge-based rap music label Trill Entertainment - Melvin Vernell Jr. and Marcus Roach. Vernell and Roach are accused of trying to kill rival Baton Rouge rapper Bruce "Beelow" Moore in 2005.

The paper says John has denied wrongdoing in that criminal matter.

As for the YouTube posting, John characterizes it as a "scissor reel," a short teaser that a production company is using to shop around the idea of a television pilot, the paper reported.

John said the video was not intended for the general public but somehow made it on to the Internet and eventually to the YouTube site. Read The Advocate's Friday story [here](http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/acadiana/113055334.html?index=1&c=y and view the video below) and view the video below.